When Maria Romero read "The Ugly Duckling" with her son, she didn't mind that 6-year-old Raul knew more words than she did.

But she wants to change that.

Romero started taking English as a Second Language classes at Casper's Even Start program six months ago. In that time she improved seven levels from the lowest testing level where she started. Romero said she was able to take the classes because she can bring 3-year-old daughter Gloria to the preschool at Even Start.

"I need to speak English," Romero said. "It's necessary for a job, to help with homework, for everything."

The Even Start program offers GED and English as a Second Language classes for adults and preschool programs for children -- for free. Transportation is provided for those who need it. Even Start students have to participate in four areas of learning: adult literacy, early childhood education for their children, parenting classes and reading activities with their children. In addition to classes, parents receive monthly home visits from Even Start staff members.

"We give 150 percent and that's what we expect from them," Even Start Director Danielle Amedee said. "We tell them, 'We are not a child-care service -- your children are actually going to be taught.'"

The three-classroom center had a rocky start to the school year. Floods on July 3 left behind almost one foot of water and pushed Even Start out of its space. They moved class to the cafeteria at Life Steps, but teaching was difficult with parents and children in the same space, said Amedee.

The program reopened Sept. 9 and celebrated the reopening on Thursday.

The incident allowed them to reconfigure the space, but it's still small. The program enrolled 15 families this year but has openings depending on the ages of the children. Even Start partners with Headstart and the Child Development Center of Natrona County to make sure the entire family has the help it needs, said Amedee.

"We want them to feel comfortable," she said.

Sometimes that means staff members drive parents to Casper College, walk them through the GED test process and take them back to Even Start.

Even Start began in 1994 as a program for families in the area of North Casper Elementary School. The program expanded to serve the entire district but closed in 2005 after it lost federal funding. Even Start reopened at the Life Steps Campus as a nonprofit organization in October 2008.

Reach education reporter Jackie Borchardt at (307) 266-0593 or at jackie.borchardt@trib.com. Read her education blog at tribtown.trib.com/reportcard